The only good nation is imagination.

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Health insurance in the USA

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by Baneartworks.

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The Lost World

Shipwreck on a clear night off the coast of Finland. By Mikko Lagerstedt.
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A Smoke Angel from Airplane Flares

The cloud resulted from a series of flares released by an air force jet over the Atlantic Ocean in May. The jet that released the flares, a C-17 Globemaster III, is seen on the right. The flares release smoke and the resulting pattern is sometimes known as a smoke angel. The circular eyes of the above smoke angel are caused by air spiraling off the plane's wings and are known as wingtip vortices.
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Shanghai Disney Resort

The resort just opened in Shanghai, China.
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Io, Jupiter's moon in full color

NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired its highest resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io on 3 July 1999 during its closest pass to Io since orbit insertion in late 1995. This color mosaic uses the near-infrared, green and violet filters (slightly more than the visible range) of the spacecraft's camera and approximates what the human eye would see. Most of Io's surface has pastel colors, punctuated by black, brown, green, orange, and red units near the active volcanic centers.
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Cherimoya from seed

This is my "Fino de Jete" cherimoya, grown in a container since it germinated 5 years ago. Its actually a little bit stockier and wider this season - the picture is over a year old. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
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The sand seas of the Namib Desert

The blue and white area is the dry river bed of the Tsauchab. Black dots of vegetation are concentrated close to the river’s main route, while salt deposits appear bright white. Running through the river valley, a road connects Sossusvlei to the Sesriem settlement. At the road’s 45th kilometre, seen at the lower-central part of the image, a white path shoots off and ends at a circular parking area at the base of a dune. This is Dune 45, a popular tourist stop on the way to and from Sossusvlei. In this image, there appears to be some shadow on the western side. From this we can deduce that the image was acquired during the late morning.
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Island in the Sky

Photographer Shane Kalyn sums this scene up nicely, “There is an ethereal, otherworldly feeling to this photograph, as this little island in the middle of Tumuch Lake in northern British Columbia appears as if it’s floating in the clouds. To bring us back to Earth, a fish has left a ripple in the water on the left-hand side of the shot. The scene was amazing to witness, let alone be lucky enough to photograph—totally the right place at the right time.”
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Cherimoya from seed

This is my "Fino de Jete" cherimoya, grown in a container since it germinated 5 years ago. Its actually a little bit stockier and wider this season - the picture is over a year old. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
View full size image

Io, Jupiter's moon in full color

NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired its highest resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io on 3 July 1999 during its closest pass to Io since orbit insertion in late 1995. This color mosaic uses the near-infrared, green and violet filters (slightly more than the visible range) of the spacecraft's camera and approximates what the human eye would see. Most of Io's surface has pastel colors, punctuated by black, brown, green, orange, and red units near the active volcanic centers.
View full size image

Island in the Sky

Photographer Shane Kalyn sums this scene up nicely, “There is an ethereal, otherworldly feeling to this photograph, as this little island in the middle of Tumuch Lake in northern British Columbia appears as if it’s floating in the clouds. To bring us back to Earth, a fish has left a ripple in the water on the left-hand side of the shot. The scene was amazing to witness, let alone be lucky enough to photograph—totally the right place at the right time.”
View full size image

The sand seas of the Namib Desert

The blue and white area is the dry river bed of the Tsauchab. Black dots of vegetation are concentrated close to the river’s main route, while salt deposits appear bright white. Running through the river valley, a road connects Sossusvlei to the Sesriem settlement. At the road’s 45th kilometre, seen at the lower-central part of the image, a white path shoots off and ends at a circular parking area at the base of a dune. This is Dune 45, a popular tourist stop on the way to and from Sossusvlei. In this image, there appears to be some shadow on the western side. From this we can deduce that the image was acquired during the late morning.
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Kicking Horse River

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France revolts against labor reform.

A protester uses a tennis racket to return a tear gas canister during a demonstration to protest France's proposed labor law reforms. Photographer : Stephane Mahe
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Behind The Scenes: The Empire Strikes Back

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There is no escape.

Don't fight it, don't run from it, don't delay it. Just do it already.
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Prickly Pear Extravaganza

This Opuntia Humifusa (compressa), the prickly pear cactus, is a Missouri native plant. This plant has been very happy growing along the stone wall at the edge of my yard.
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